Burial vault



March 14, 1939. c. R. NEFF BURIAL -VAULT FiledMach 15, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

C/aude A. Neff March 14, 1939. I R. NEFF.

' BURIAL vAULT Filed March 13, '1957 2 sheets-sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Mar. 14, 1939 PATENT OFFICE BURIAL VAULT' Claude R. Neff, Camden, Ohio, assigner to The Neff & Fry Company, Camden, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 13, 1937, Serial No. 130,617

8 Claims.

My invention relates to burial vaults. It has to do, more particularly, with that type of burial Vault known as a surface burial vault and which has its top surface substantially flush with the surface of the earth.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a surface burial vault which includes a casket chamber and which is of such a nature that the casket chamber may be horizontally disposed and the top surface of the vault will lie flush with the surrounding surface of the earth regardless of the inclination or grade of such surface.

Another object of my invention is to provide a burial vault of the type indicated which is provided With means for absorbing moisture emitted by the corpse.

Another object of my invention is to provide a surface burial vault which is made up of a plurality of units and which is provided with means for effectively sealing the units.

In its preferred form my invention contemplates the provision of a vault which consists of a main body portion adapted to form the casket chamber. A lid is provided for covering Athe upper end of the casket chamber and the lid is sealed theron by a duel seal consisting of an air seal and a seal comprising some suitable sealing composition. On the upper surface of the lid I preferably provide an upwardly kprojecting continuous flange which serves to provide a receptacle for some suitable absorbent material which will absorb the moisture emitted by the corpse in the casket chamber and which escapes through the said lid. The absorbent material preferably extends overthe entire casket'chamber. I provide a second unit embodying an upper slab having a depending continuous flange which ts on the outside of the upwardly projecting ange formed on the lid of the casket chamber. A dual 40 seal is also provided between this unit and the lid of the casket chamber. 'I'his unit serves to form a dead air insulating chamber above the casket chamber.

The burial vault is so constructed that the 45 casket chamber may be horizontally disposed and the slab at the top of the second unit may be disposed at any desired angle so that it will conform to the grade of the surface of the earth surrounding it. If the grade is inclined, the top slab may be disposed in a correspondingly inclined position. This may be accomplished by having the upstanding flange on the lid substantially wedge-shaped, or in other Words, projecting from the lid a gradually increasing distance from one end thereof to the other, in order that the top slab will be in the desired angular relationship to the lid of the casket chamber and,'con sequently, correspond to the inclination of the grade of the surrounding surface. The same result may be accomplishedby having the depending flange on the top unit Wedge-shaped instead of having the upstanding flange on the lid so shaped.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View, partly broken away, showing a burial vault made according to my invention in position in the earth and illustrating how the top slab thereof may be disposed at the same inclination as the surrounding surface of the earth.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken through the vault' illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 1 but showing different means for obtaining the proper inclination of the top slab.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken through the vault illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail in section illustrating the seal provided between the casket chamber and the lid and between the lid and the top unit.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the top slab horizontally disposed and par allel to the lid of the casket chamber.

With reference to the drawings, I have shown a surface burial vault made in accordance with my invention. This vault may be constructed of any suitable material, preferably cast-stone o1' concrete, although it may be made of various plastic orother materials. Although I have not shown the material reinforced, it will be understood that it may be reinforced in a suitable manner.

The vault comprises a body portion I, which is adapted to form a chamber 2 in which the casket is adapted to be placed. It will be noted that the body portion I is of substantially box-like form. The chamber 2 may be of any suitable size and is preferably of such a size as to receive several different sizes of caskets. If desired, the inner surface of the bottom of the casket chamber may be provided with suitable supports on which the casket will rest.

A lid 3 is provided for closing the upper end of the casket chamber 2. This lid comprises a flat slab-like portion adapted to extend over the entire upper end of the casket chamber and to cover such chamber. This slab-like portion is cover unit I and the unit 3.

provided with a continuous ange 4 which depends therefrom a considerable distance. It will be obvious that when the lid 3 is positioned on the upper end of the body portion I a space (Figure 2) is formed between the inner surface of the ange 4 and the outer surface of the upper end of the walls of the body portion I. Before the lid 3 is placed on the upper end of the body portion I, suitable sealing material 6 is preferably placed entirely around the upper edge of such body portion in order to make the chamber 2 substantially air-tight.

It will be understood that when the lid 3 isr mounted on the upper end of the body portion I, the casket chamber 2 will be effectively sealed by a dual seal. If water begins to ascend into the space 5 it will compress the air therein and, therefore, further movement of theV water upwardly will be precluded. If no sealing compound were used between the lid 3 and the body portion I, movement of water vup into the space 5 would compress the air in such space and in the casket chamber itself so that further movement of the water would be precluded. In other words, the lid 3 in cooperation with the body portion I forms an air seal which will prevent entrance of water into the casket chamber.

The sealing compound 6 when used will also aid in preventing moisture from entering the casket chamber 2 and will preclude the passage of air thereinto. Therefore, it is desirable to use the sealing compound. By sealing the lid 3 to the body portion I with a suitable compound, these units will be so bound together that they will practically be the same as one unit.

The upper surface of the lid 3 is provided with an upwardly projecting continuous wall 'I. It will be noted from Figures 1 and 2 that this wall 'I extends along all of the peripheral edges of the lid 3. It will also be noted that the wall 'I gradually increases in height fromfone end of the lid to the other. At the left hand end of the lid 3 (Figure 2) the height of the wall I is substantially negligible while at the right hand end of the lid its height is a maximum. Thus, the top edge of the wall 'I will be inclined from one end of the wall to the other. The wall 'I has a flange 8 formed at its upper edge and has an inclined shoulder 9 formed thereon outside of the flange 8.

I have provided a top cover unit ID which includes a top slab-like portion II having an integral continuous depending peripheral flange I 2. This top cover unit I0 is adapted to be placed in cooperative relation with the unit 3 in such a manner that the flange I2 of the unit I0 will lie outside of the flange 8 of wall 'I of unit 3. The lower edge of the ilange I2 will substantially contact with the shoulder 9 while the upper edge of the flange 8 will substantially contact with the inner surface of the slab-like portion II. It will be noted that the flange I2 is perpendicular to the slab-portion II of unit Il! but that the flange 8 is at an angle to lid 3 in order that flange 8 will be parallel to ange I2 even though the top unit Ill is in inclined position, as indicated. The flanges 8 and I2 will be in slightly spaced relationship so that a space I3 will be formed therebetween.

Thus, it will be noted that since the flanges 8 and I2 are arranged as indicated, an air-seal will be produced between these two flanges and, consequently, there will be no danger of water entering the chamber formed between the Vtop Sealing material I4 is preferably placed between the lower edge of flange I2 and the shoulder 9 and between the upper edge of flange 8 and the inner surface of slab-like portion II in order to prevent entrance of air into the chamber formed between unit I0 and unit 3 and in order to firmly bind the top unit I!! to the unit 3. A suitable marker I5 may be provided on the upper surface of the slablike portion I I of the unit I0, as indicated.

It will be noted that the slab-like portion II will be inclined relative to the lid 3. It is desirable to have it inclined to a predetermined eX- tent when the vault is to be placed in a grave where the surrounding earths surface is at an inclination. The unit I0 is so mounted on the unit 3 that an insulating chamber is formed which is substantially wedge-shaped in vertical longitudinal. section. The inclination of the slablike portion Il may be varied by varying the inclination of the upper edge of the combined flange 9 and wall `I to suit'any terrain in which the vault is to Abe embedded.

The wall 'I which projects upwardly from the lid 3 ,also servesto form a receptacle on top of the lid in which a layer of a suitable absorbent material I 6 may be disposed. This absorbent material is adapted tov absorb moisture emitted from the corpseand which will pass upwardly through the lid 3 which is made suiiiciently porous to permit this. It will be noted that the layer of material I6 will cover substantially the entire casket chamber. This material is preferably a loose layer of powdered gypsum although it may be any other suitable material which will absorb the moisture. This layer of material will also serve to insulate the casket chamber.

In positioning this Vault in the earth, the body portion I is first placed in the grave. It is desirable for this body portion to be horizontally disposed regardless of the inclination or grade o'f the top surface of the surrounding earth. The casket is then lowered into the casket chamber. The lid 3 is then positioned on the upper end of the casket chamber. Then the material I6 is positioned on top of the lid within the wall 'I. The top cover unit Illis then placed on the unit 3 with its ange I2 surrounding the flange 8 of unit 3. Material is then filled in around the vault. The inclination of the top edge of the flange 8 should be such that the slab-like portion II of unit ID will lie substantially flush with the surface of the surrounding earth. The inclination of the flange 8 may be predetermined so that it will correspond to the inclination or grade of the surface in which the vault is to be embedded. The wall 'I and the flange 8 thereof may be so formed as to dispose the slab-like portion II ofthe unit I0 at any desired angle relative to the unit 3.

In Figures 3, 4 and 5, I show different means for obtaining the proper inclination of the top slab of the unit Ilia. In this case, instead of the upstanding flange on the lid 3a being inclined from one end of-the vault` to the other the depending flange on the top unit Ia is so'inclined. Thus, flange 8a on lid 3a, corresponding to flange 8, projects from the lid a uniform distance throughout its length. However, flange |211., corresponding to flange I2, depends from the slab-like portion IIa a gradually increasing distance from one end of the slab to the other. In this case, the flanges I2a, and 8a, as illustrated in Figure 5, will form an air seal in the same manner that the flanges I 2 and 8 form an air seal. However, in this instance the flange l2a will rest on the top surface of the lid 3a and this will be the only point where the sealing material I4 will be placed. Any water tending to flow up through the space i3d, formed between flanges 8a and I2a, will compress the air in said space and in the insulating chamber and further movement of the water into said space will be precluded.

If desired, a cover slab Il may be made separate from slab Ila and may be placed thereover and secured thereto in a suitable manner.

In Figure 6 I illustrate a burial vault which is constructed exactly as the burial vault illustrated in the other gures with the exception that the top slab l Ibi is parallel to the lid 3b. In this case, each of the anges 8b and |22)I will be made the same dimensions throughout its entire length. This burial vault will be used when the surface of the surrounding earth is substantially level.

The insulating chamber above the lid will form a very eiective insulating means between the outside air and the casket chamber 2. Furthermore, this insulating action will be enhanced by the layer of material I6. Thus, an even temperature will be maintained in the casket chamber and the casket cannot be affected to any appreciable extent by outer air conditions and, consequently, deterioration of the corpse will be delayed. The action of the sun or warmth upon the exposed part of the burial vault, due to capillary attraction, tends to draw any moisture in the casket chamber 2 from such chamber through the lid 3 and into the layer of material I6 which will absorb it. Thus, since no moisture can enter the casket chamber 2, the moisture contained in the body itself will be eventually extracted and absorbed, thereby eliminating disintegration.

It will be apparent that this vault is made of three sections, viz., the body portion I, the lid 3 and the unit I0. Since the vault is constructed in this manner, it may be readily handled and positioned in the grave.

From the preceding description and the following claims, it will be apparent that the burial vault which I have provided has many important advantages.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A burial vault comprising a hollow body portion adapted to form a casket chamber, a lid mounted upon the upper end of said casket chamber, said lid having an upwardly projecting continuous flange, a top unit adapted to be disposed above said lid, said unit embodying a top member having a depending continuous ange, the depending flange of the top unit being disposed adjacent to and on the outside of the upwardly projecting flange of the lid and in cooperative relationship therewith so as to produce an air-seal between said flanges.

2. A burial vault comprising a hollow body portion adapted to form a casket chamber, a lid mounted upon the upper end of said casket chamber, said lid having an upwardly projecting continuous flange, a top unit adapted to be disposed above said lid, said unit embodying a top member having a depending continuous flange, the depending flange of the top unit being disposed adjacent to the upwardly projecting iiange of the lid and in cooperative relationship therewith in order to produce an air seal between said flanges.

3. A burial vault comprising a hollow body portion adapted to form a casket chamber, a lid mounted upon the upper end of said casket chamber, said lid being provided with a continuous depending flange adapted to form an air seal between said lid and said body portion, a top unit adapted to be disposed above said lid, said unit embodying a top member having a depending continuous flange, said lid also having an upstanding continuous ange, the depending ange of the top unit being disposed adjacent to the upstanding flange of the lid and in cooperative relationship therewith in order to produce an air seal between said anges.

4. A burial vault comprising a hollow body portion adapted to form a casket chamber and having the top thereof open, a lid mounted on the top of said body portion, said lid having an upstanding continuous flange, said flange projecting from the lid gradually increasing distances from one end thereof to the other, and a top portion cooperating with said iiange so that it will be disposed at an angle to the lid of the body portion.

5. A burial vault comprising a hollow body portion adapted to form a casket chamber and having the top thereof closed, a hollow member mounted on the top of said body portion, said member comprising a top portion having a continuous depending flange, said flange being of gradually increasing depth from one end of the top portion to the other so that the said top portion will be at an angle to the top of the casket chamber.

6. A burial vault comprising a hollow body portion adapted to form a casket chamber having the top thereof closed, a hollow member mounted on the top of said body portion, said hollow member having its top closed and being substantially wedge-shaped in vertical longitudinal cross-section.

'7. A burial vault comprising a hollow body porj tion adapted to form a casket chamber, a lid mounted upon the upper end of said casket chamber, said lid having an upwardly projecting continuous flange, said flange projecting from the lid gradually increasing distances from one end thereof to the other, a top unit adapted to be disposed above said lid, said unit embodying a top member having a depending continuous ange, the depending flange of the top unit being disposed adjacent to the upwardly projecting flange of the lid and in cooperative relationship therewith in order to produce an air-seal between said iiangcs.

8. A burial vault comprising a hollow body portion adapted to form a casket chamber, a lid mounted upon the upper end of said casket chamber, said lid having an upwardly projecting continuous flange, a top unit adapted to be disposed above said lid, said unit embodying a top member `having a depending continuous flange, said depending ange being of gradually increasing depth from one end of the top member to the other, said depending flange of the top unit being disposed adjacent to the upwardly projecting flange of the lid and in cooperative relationship therewith in order to produce an air-seal between said flanges.

CLAUDE R. NEFF. 

